The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-17

sion Inst are uncertain ana unreliable and
always fall below actual religion, and In
support Of his assertion, says: THE chair
man Of the House Committee on Pensions
calculates that the number Of pensioners
under this bfll would be 50, 105 and the in.
creased cost a, ,767, ,180; this 10 upon the
theory that only those who are entirely un-
able to work wonld be its benehciaries.
Such was the principle Of the Revolutionary
pension law Of 1918, much more clearly
stated, II seems to me, than In this bill.
When the law Of 1918 was upon It's passage
in Congress the number Of pensioners TO be
benefited thereby was thought to be 874,
but the number Of applicants under the act
was 22,297, and the number Of pensions
actually allowed were 20, ,4S5, costing, II Is
reported, for the frat year d, "a, 900, instead
Of 10000, the estimated expense for that
IA law was passed In 1853 for the benefit
Of the surviving widows Of Revolutionary
soldiers who were married after January 1,
1900 It was estimated that they numbered
800 at the time Of the passage Of the act,
but the number Of pensions allowed was
8,742, and the amount paid for such pensions
during the first year Of the operation Of the
act was $50 200, instead Of $4,000 % had
been estimated"
~ have made no search for other illustra-
tions," the President adds, land the above
being at hand are given ~ tending to show
that estimates cannot be relied upon in such
cases."
Continuing with his objections to the bill,
the President says: sslf none should be
pensioned under this bill except those ut
terly unable to work, I am satisfied that the
cost stated In the estimate referred to
would be many times multiplied, and with
Q constant increase from year to year, and
II those partially unable to earn their sup
port should be admitted to the privileges Of
this bill, the probable increase Of expense
would be almost appalling think It may
be said that at the close Of the war Of the
Rebellion every Northern State and great
majority Of Northern counties and cities,
were burdened with taxation on
account Of the large bounty paid our SOL
diers, and the bonded debt thereby created
still constitutes . large item in the accounts
Of the tax gatherer against the people.
Federal taxation no less borne by the peo-
pie than that directly levied upon their
property 10 still maintained at the rate
made necessary by the oxegencies Of war.
| II this bill should become Q law with its
tremendous addition to our pension obliga-
tions, I am thoroughly convinced that furth.
er efforts To reduce the Federal revenue and
restore some part Of It to our people will,
and perhaps should, be seriously question
ed. II has conveniently been . cause Of
pride and congratulstion to the American
citizens that this country is not put to q
charge Of maintaining . large standing
army in time Of peace. Yet we are now
living under . war tax which has been
tolerated in peaceful time for to meet the
obligations incurred in war. But for years
past, in eli parts Of the country, the demand
for the reduction Of the burdens Of taxation
upon our labor and production has increased
in volume and urgency.
~ am not willing to approve q measure
presenting the objections to which this bill
10 subject, and which moreover will have
the effect Of disappointing the expectation,
Of the people and their desire and hope foi
relief from war taxation in time Of peace
| The President closes his message by say
ing: 1.-THE evil threatened by this bill is, In
my opinion, such that charged with great
responsibility, in behalf Of the people, car
not do other wise than to bring TO the con
sideration Of this measure my best effort,
Of thought and Judgment and perform my
constitutional duty 10 relation thereto, re
gardless Of all consequences, except suct
q appear to be related TO the best and high
| est interests Of the country"